Question seeks data on involuntary mental health patients cared for in non-secure beds. Answer provides context on duty of care and legal requirements, but states the requested data is not collected.

AnsweredQoN 5614Legislative Council
Asked
14 November 2007
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(2) Under ‘duty of care’ protocols, on how many occasions in each of the past three years have mental health patients requiring involuntary care have been cared for in non-secure, -
(a) approved mental health beds; and
(b) general hospital beds?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
5 December 2007
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Health
Response time
21 days
(1) The number of patient separations (discharges) from a general public hospital bed with a principal diagnosis of a mental health disorder for the past three years is shown in attached document
[tabled paper _______].
(2) (a) and (b)
All clinicians have a 'duty of care' to provide care and treatment for persons with a mental illness who are unable, due to their mental illness, to provide consent. This is separate from the statutory obligations under the
Mental Health Act 1996
.
Referred persons under section 29 of the
Mental Health Act 1996
and involuntary detained patients under section 59 of the
Mental Health Act 1996
may occupy a general hospital bed for medical and/or surgical reasons, or whilst awaiting transfer to an authorised facility.
There is no legal requirement to keep data on detained involuntary patients treated in general hospitals or for persons on a Form 1 awaiting transfer to an authorised hospital. The Mental Health Information System, therefore, does not collect or report this information.
Please note, a patient may be detained under the
Mental Health Act 1996
in an authorised unit whether the beds are in a locked or open area.
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